Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-05-05
LAMENTABLE AFFAIR.

LAMENTABLE AFFAIR.
Along and Continually Growing Enmity
Between Ex-Chief Justice Henry and
etste Auditor Walker eliminates In a
Personal Encounter, in Which Judge
- Henry Gets Shot and Walker Severely In
tured by Blow From a Cane.
JEFFERSON CRY, Mo-, April pa very
serious difficulty occurred about nine
O'Clock yesterday morning between Judge
John w. Henry and State Auditor John
Walker, which resulted in the serious
wounding of both, the former by pistol
shot and the latter by blow from cane
The difficulty occurred near the east en-
trance to the Capitol grounds. From vari-
Gus statements it appears that Judge
Henry was going to the Supreme Court
building, where he expected to argue
case. Auditor Walker was coming from
the Capitol and the two passed each other
just outside of the Capitol gate. They
had not been on speaking terms for some
time, and consequently did not salute
each other. Just after passing Auditor
Walker faced around and said:
sJudge Henry, what do you mean by
continually assaulting my character and
injuring mes"
Judge Henry replied: 81 have never
said anything about you except what was
the TRUTH
After positive and q negative asser-
from each, the auditor said: ''You are a
- liar"
A moment later Judge Henry struck
him over the head with his cane, and the
auditor drew pistol and fired almost in
stantly. For minute or two they stood
and looked at each other, neither attempt
ing any further hostility. The auditor
seated himself on a door step near by and
appeared to be looking for something on
the ground. Judge Henry walked to the
Supreme Court building, and in the hall
way met Mr.. X. B. Vineyard, st. Joseph
lawyer, to whom he said:
''Send for doctor; John Walker, the
- coward, shot me-"
While Mr.. Vineyard was making some
inquiries as to what physician to suIdmon
the judge went to the telephone himself
and telephoned for DR.. c. Fl. Thompson.
In the meantime Mr.. Legg, st. Louis
architect, who was passing by, assisted
Auditor Walker into c. g. Brooks house,
only few steps from where the combat
occurred
DIR. r. E. Young had also been sum-
moned from the Supreme Court building,
and arrived first. A hasty examination
of Judge Henrys wounds showed that,
while serious, they were not necessarily
dangerous. He had evidently attempted
to grab the pistol, as his hand and wrist
were badly powder-burned. The ball,
which, it seems, was fired from either
thirty-two or thirty-eight caliber pistol,
first struck the f1eshy part of his left arm,
between the wrist and elbow, and thence
struck his left breast about an inch above
the nipple and ranged across and lodged
in the right breast bone, where it still re-
mains, the physicians deemiug it unwise
Ito attemptto remove it.
The wound received by the auditor was
across the left side of the head, and seems
to be t3ffous. The cane used by Judge
Henry was an ordinary, silver-headed eb-
ony stick, about medium weight. The au-
ditor complains of his neck and shoulder,
and thinks that he was struck more than
once, but Judge Henry and boy who
witnessed the fight say that only one
blow was struck, which seemed to stun
the auditor considerably, but did not
knock him down. The auditor is very
much excited since recovering his senses,
and can remember but very little of what
happened. Visitors are not permitted to
see him, which would seem to indicate
5 that his wound is of a serious nature.
Joe Beckers, seventeen-year old boy,
who was painting just over the combat
ants, gives the following version of the
p affair:
Just after Judge Henry and Auditor
Walker PASSED, the auditor turned
around and said: Judge Henry, what do
you mean by talking about me so,' and
Judge Henry said, 4 have never told any
thing except the truth about you, John
Walker Then after a few words, the
auditor called him - liar. Judge
Henry raised his cane, and heard him
say to the auditor: Shoot, you - cow
ard; why don't you shoota Then he
struck the auditor and the auditor shot
him, all of viii CHI happened almost in
5tantly."
Architect J. q. Legg, of st. Louis, said
he heard the report of pistol as he walk
ed up Main street toward the Capitol
building. At the same instant he saw
two men on the sidewalk opposite the
frame building near the gate. As he
drew near them he recognized them as
Auditor Walker and Judge Henry. Be-
fore he he reached the spot where they
were standing Auditor Walker fell to the
pavement and Judge Henry turned and
walked toward the Capitol Mr.. Legg
helped Mr.. Walker up and led him to the
nearest house, where he sat down on the
the steps to rest. Mrs. DIR. Brooks, on
hearing the pistol report, came out and
invited Mr.. Legg to assist Auditor Walker
into her residence, near by. He walked
to the house with some difficulty. and was
almost carried to lounge, where the
wound over his right temple was bathed
Hecom planned of palpitation of the heart
and mum bness in his left side. Mr.
Legg was nearly forty yards away when
the difficulty occurred, and he did not see
the blow struck or the shot fired.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
Judge Henry and the auditor have not
been on good terms for several years
and for several months back did not rec
ognize each other. Judge Henry was
committee last winter, and it is believed
= his testimony was of a nature to irritate
and ipjure the auditor. Both men art
over sixty years or age, ant
have been very prominent il
Missouri politics for fifteen years or more
and leach, has a large circle of warn
friends. Judge Henry was late Chic
Justice of the Supreme Court, aud Mr.
Walker is now serviug second term a:
State Auditor. The difficulty is seriousl.
- regretted by all, and it is hard to tell what
the end may be. If the advice of friend.
s is followed, the matter will be dropped.
Judge Henry was taken to his home i,
- Kansas City yesterday afternoon.
sssS Auditor Walker was removed from nea
the scene of the combat to his home, som
five blocks distant. He vomited hard an
continually complained of pain at tn
base of his brain. His right side is partial
: fy beuumbed The physicians, however,
believe that he will recover in due time.
A Dnel in Prospect. SO
NEW ORLEANS, April 26-The Picay,n
and the states have been exchanging ed